Top Running Backs of All Time?

[NAHSTE]

I think it was the black gloves he wore. They seemed to give him a ......sharp edge.

He was also really good at breaking free into the secondary. A hard man to bring down, sometimes even 12 defenders couldn't stop the OJ. And when the Juice got loose, forget it, there was no catchi....oh wait, there was, lol.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Figured this could be an interesting thread and since it doesn't involve listing Kurt Warner it may actually be fruitful...


Top 10 Running Backs of All-Time

1. Jim Brown

2 Walter Payton

3. Emmitt Smith
4. Barry Sanders
5. Marshall Faulk
6. Eric Dickerson
7. Jerome Bettis
8. LaDanian Tomlinson
9. Tony Dorsett
10. Curtis Martin

Just missed the list: Gale Sayers(What could have been...) Earl Campbell, OJ Simpson, Franco Harris, Lenny Moore, Thurman Thomas

Top 5 pretty much mirrors my own.
As always any list that doesnt include those 4 guys at the top is delusional to me. All 4 have iron clad arguments for being the best ever and only reason they wouldnt be considered is because of the other 3.

From 7-10 I would disagree alot.

Cambell>>Bettis
Harris>>Martin
OJ>>LT
Sayers always ends up on my list somewhere.

 

[FirstTimer]

Top 5 pretty much mirrors my own.
As always any list that doesnt include those 4 guys at the top is delusional to me. All 4 have iron clad arguments for being the best ever and only reason they wouldnt be considered is because of the other 3.

From 7-10 I would disagree alot.

Cambell>>Bettis
Harris>>Martin
OJ>>LT
Sayers always ends up on my list somewhere.

I give Bettis credit for being the same type of back in a lot of way sbut having better longevity than Campbell. Just my 2 cents.

As for Martin it's tough to ignore his career totals. Maybe he was so underrated now he's overrated type of deal but I think #10 is a pretty fair slot for him. OJ over LT not sure on. OJ had 5 great seasons but didn't really do much else. He was Terrel Davis with a bit more durability IMO. LT has had a more impressive career thus far IMO.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

I give Bettis credit for being the same type of back in a lot of way sbut having better longevity than Campbell. Just my 2 cents.

As for Martin it's tough to ignore his career totals. Maybe he was so underrated now he's overrated type of deal but I think #10 is a pretty fair slot for him. OJ over LT not sure on. OJ had 5 great seasons but didn't really do much else. He was Terrel Davis with a bit more durability IMO. LT has had a more impressive career thus far IMO.

I dont think LT was anymore impressive than his contemporaries for much of his career. Guys like Holmes , Alexander , Lewis were always beating him to the rushing title and breaking the a TD record or garnering a 2k season. Rushing yards are easier to come by now and he didnt stand out from his peers in that aspect. I will say he was a very dominant short yardage and goalline runner. In that aspect better than half of the top 10 you listed.He salso the only top modern RB to be lined up in traditional I-formation all the time. A huge knock is his constant absence in the post season though. The guy hasnt had a single dominant post season game that led to a victory.

OJ for me was a phenom and did things no RB had to that point. Was widely considered the best RB during his career , and outside of Sayers/Sanders probably the best pure runner ever.


Martin was a second tier runner almost his whole career. Very Art Monkish to me. Very consistent , very durable , very reliable. But his most impressive stat to me was winning the rushing title without breaking a run over 20 yards.

Earls dominant period was as dominant as any RB ever. Bettis lasted longer but also spent periods of his career sharing carries or as change of pace or situational guy. For that I give Earl the edge.


I have to say rule changes and scheme changes make RBs post Faulk as hard to judge as WRs are. Alot of swollen stats and very little dominance. Playing in the I formation behind a FB is a rarity and seems to hinder rushing games in todays rules. Far too easy to line up an extra WR that forces a removal of a linebacker , and opens up the lanes ,and makes it close to stupid to line up 8 in the box.

It contradicts many people arguments of there top guys but frankly more RBs today are having field days in offenses that look like Barrys/Thurmans/Faulks alot more than they do what Payton/Emmitt/OJ ran under.

 

[FirstTimer]

[

I dont think LT was anymore impressive than his contemporaries for much of his career. Guys like Holmes , Alexander , Lewis were always beating him to the rushing title and breaking the a TD record or garnering a 2k season. Rushing yards are easier to come by now and he didnt stand out from his peers in that aspect. I will say he was a very dominant short yardage and goalline runner. In that aspect better than half of the top 10 you listed.He salso the only top modern RB to be lined up in traditional I-formation all the time. A huge knock is his constant absence in the post season though. The guy hasnt had a single dominant post season game that led to a victory.

I see your point on LT but at the same time I disagree with the overall observation. Sure Shaun, Tiki, etc would beat him to a rushign title or other individual marks but over all what makes LT so impressive is the fact that for many of those guys they'd have a good 1 or 2 year stretch then be done where as LT has consistantly put up supurb seasons since he came into the NFL. Those other runners in a lot of ways have had "flash in the pan" seasons meanwhile LT has been a model of consitency at the position and one of the best al around RB's in NFL history.

OJ for me was a phenom and did things no RB had to that point. Was widely considered the best RB during his career , and outside of Sayers/Sanders probably the best pure runner ever.

On the OJ thing I will fully admit to not knowing a lot about him from film etc. So my opinion on him and his career may not be 100% educated but I still hesitate putting him in the Top 10 because I like some other RB's better right now all-time

Martin was a second tier runner almost his whole career. Very Art Monkish to me. Very consistent , very durable , very reliable. But his most impressive stat to me was winning the rushing title without breaking a run over 20 yards.

Yeah along those lines I think Martin was very underappreciated during his career and now looking back we can really appreciate what he did. Does second tier during your playing days mean you have to be second tier all time I guess is what I'm asking?

Earls dominant period was as dominant as any RB ever. Bettis lasted longer but also spent periods of his career sharing carries or as change of pace or situational guy. For that I give Earl the edge.

I see the point and if Campbell was in Top 10 I wouldn't hold it against him but I think it's very impressive for Bettis being the type of runner he was to have such a long career and be so productive.

I have to say rule changes and scheme changes make RBs post Faulk as hard to judge as WRs are. Alot of swollen stats and very little dominance. Playing in the I formation behind a FB is a rarity and seems to hinder rushing games in todays rules. Far too easy to line up an extra WR that forces a removal of a linebacker , and opens up the lanes ,and makes it close to stupid to line up 8 in the box.

Agreed. 5-10 years ago it was easier to compare RB's across eras. Now it is becoming exceedingly difficult.

 

[mgoblue2290]

How could my argument be turned against me FT? Is it the whole good team thing, because if I recall the Bears had some pretty good teams in the 80's.

 

[packersfan4eva]

barry sanders, no doubt. he played on the freakin lions, for chrissake. if he played on like, the packers, he'd have run for well over 20,000 yards.

 

[Raidersabc123]

No Bo Jackson

 

[Chadman]

I watched atleast 5 of emmitt smiths games and boy was he overrated. The dallas o line was fucking amazing as the holes they opened for him at times were insane. He would basically hit the hole and get tackled. I evualate rbs as to what they can do before contact and after contact and from what I seen in those games and on highlights he wasnt that impressive.

 

[NAHSTE]

No Bo Jackson

Heisman, is that you?

 

[Hasselbeck]

1. Barry Sanders
2. Jim Brown
3. Walter Payton
4. Emmitt Smith
5. Marshall Faulk
6. OJ Simpson
7. Earl Campbell
8. Tony Dorsett
9. Curtis Martin
10. Eric Dickerson

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

i was going to post a list, but fuck each and every one of you cuz each one will trash me for my order, we all know it...so TOP 5 are, in no particular order...Payton, Brown, Campbell, Sanders, Dickerson...

Keep in mind that is not the order...watch dickerson...TRY and tell me LT, or the bus, or faulk or any of those clowns are better...Half of you making lists have only seen highlight runs, this is a young forum, im not 40 years old or anything but seeing some of these guys play full games rather highlights will change your mind.

 

[dave]

Figured this could be an interesting thread and since it doesn't involve listing Kurt Warner it may actually be fruitful...


Top 10 Running Backs of All-Time

1 Jim Brown

2. Walter Payton

3. Emmitt Smith
4. Barry Sanders
5. Marshall Faulk
6. Eric Dickerson
7. Jerome Bettis
8. LaDanian Tomlinson
9. Tony Dorsett
10. Curtis Martin

Just missed the list: Gale Sayers(What could have been...) Earl Campbell, OJ Simpson, Franco Harris, Lenny Moore, Thurman Thomas

Jerome Bettis, Tony Dorsett and Curtis Martin ahead of Earl Campbell, O.J. Simpson and Thurman Thomas?
You're kidding, right?
Simpson rushed for 2003 yards in 14 games.
Campbell twice the back any of those three were.
Thomas put up his numbers in essentially a spread offence.

Putting Bettis #7 is embarrassing. He doesn't even touch the guy behind him on your list (Tomlinson).

Dorsett and Martin both fine RBs, but no where near the difference makers Simpson, Thomas and Campbell were. IMO, Thomas was every bit the RB Faulk was.

I don't mean to disrespect Bettis, Dorsett or Martin. All are HOFers.

And a Chicago fan like you omitting Gale Sayers. Jeez.

 

[Saluki]

1.Jim Brown
2.Walter Payton
The rest in no particular order.

Sanders
Sayers
Faulk
T.Davis
Eric Dickerson
Campbell
Smith

 

[Senser81]

Emmitt Smith isn't the type of running back you could watch five times and understand how good he was. I haven't ever seen a back with better balance, vision, and consistent effort. He wasn't the fastest, but if you were trying to win a championship, a back like Emmitt Smith is what I'd want. That's why I list him #1. yes, they had a dominant line. But IMHO if Barry Sanders ever did have a dominant line it wouldn't have helped, he didn't hit the holes that were there quite often.

I agree on your assessment of Emmitt...he was also the most durable RB in NFL history along with Payton. Some years he'd lead the NFL in carries, then have another 90 carries in the postseason.

But I disagree on your Sanders assessment. Emmitt and Sanders were in college at roughly the same time. Emmitt was a productive if unspectacular RB in college. Sanders went to Oklahoma State, had relatively good surrounding talent on offense, and was arguably the greatest RB in college history. I think he ran for 2300 yards one year. Give Sanders a hole and he'd get 10 yards a carry...just look at how well he did in college.

 

[FirstTimer]

How could my argument be turned against me FT? Is it the whole good team thing, because if I recall the Bears had some pretty good teams in the 80's.

1. It is the good team thing and you are forgetting the Bears weren't a real force in the NFC until arguably the 1984 season...Payton's 10th in the NFL. He would retire after the 1987 season. Payton spent nearly 70% of his career on awful/average teams.

2. Sanders offensive line for most of his career was better than Payton's. Until 1985-1987 Payton ran behind NO All-Pro lineman(That I can find). I did the research last year in a thread at MM. It's in a thread over there somewhere. Sanders OL>Payton's OL for a majority of their careers.

3. Sanders had better talent around him. Lions fans will laugh but Payton had QB's like Bob Avalinni, Vince Evans, and Mike Phipps throwing to James Scott, Ricky Watts, Brian Baschanagel, and Ken Margerum. As average as Scott Mitchell, Herman Moore, and Brett Perriman may have been they were still far better than the garbage the Bears lined up with Walter.

Jerome Bettis, Tony Dorsett and Curtis Martin ahead of Earl Campbell, O.J. Simpson and Thurman Thomas?
You're kidding, right?
Simpson rushed for 2003 yards in 14 games.
Campbell twice the back any of those three were.
Thomas put up his numbers in essentially a spread offence.

1. Simpson had 5 good seasons. Those guys above had much longer more consistant careers IMO.

2. Calling Campbell twice the back of those guys is ludacris. Campbell was a great back and if someone wanted him in their top 10 I wouldn't fight them much on it. I just put a lot of weight into longer careers. IMO it's important so that you seperate the Terrel Davis' from the heard.

3. Marshall Faulk>Thurman Thomas. Same type of offenses, better production, MVP's and Super Bowl rings. I love Thurman Thomas too. He was my favorite non-Bear player growing up. I always rooted for the Bills in the playoffs on the AFC side. Hell I remember running around doing Kenneth Davis running impressions with that weird hitch or limp he had in his stride.

Putting Bettis #7 is embarrassing. He doesn't even touch the guy behind him on your list (Tomlinson).

Honestly 5-10 could be put in any order and I wouldn't really care much. The top 4 are the most important IMO and the ones most up for debate.

And a Chicago fan like you omitting Gale Sayers. Jeez.

He's the top 1 on my honerable mention and it's always tough to place him ahead of some others because of the short career. One of the best pure runners ever but alwyas tough for me to slide him ahead of guys with longer careers.

 

[FirstTimer]

The fact that you left Bobby Humphrey off your list makes me irate.

 

[FirstTimer]

I'm only 24 GRANDPA! :happy:

So am I.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

I agree on your assessment of Emmitt...he was also the most durable RB in NFL history along with Payton. Some years he'd lead the NFL in carries, then have another 90 carries in the postseason.

But I disagree on your Sanders assessment. Emmitt and Sanders were in college at roughly the same time. Emmitt was a productive if unspectacular RB in college. Sanders went to Oklahoma State, had relatively good surrounding talent on offense, and was arguably the greatest RB in college history. I think he ran for 2300 yards one year. Give Sanders a hole and he'd get 10 yards a carry...just look at how well he did in college.

Therefore Bo Jackson Herschel Walker and Marcus Allen deserve to be on the list as well ?

I dont think its difficult to understand that certain players were simply in perfect systems for there talents. Emmitt was in an ideal system..for him. Barry was in an ideal system...for him.
Look at the turning point for Marshal Faulk once he got out of a traditional 2back run first offense.. Once Indy spread the ball and started passing first he turned into a HOF caliber player.
Saying that a east west runner all of a sudden is going to increase production in a system that forces him to to wait for blocking and typically stay between the tackles is one massive assumption.




To other things..

FWIW Emmitt led the league in Yards after contact/Avg yards after contact 4/5. Barry was in the top 3 only twice in those years((IIRC Bettis/Means/Foster would normally round out the top)). So It takes more than 5 whole games!! of watching a player to evaluate them.

Dickersons legacy sure didnt last. He was easily everyones number 2-3 in the early mid 90s. I think his late career team hopping attitude issues , coupled with 3 all time greats following him (barry/emmitt/faulk) lowered his view in manys eyes out of the top 5 and often not even top 10. I cant look at his career/Highlights and remember some of his dominant games without putting him up there with any of the great ones.

Yeah along those lines I think Martin was very underappreciated during his career and now looking back we can really appreciate what he did. Does second tier during your playing days mean you have to be second tier all time I guess is what I'm asking?

I see the point and if Campbell was in Top 10 I wouldn't hold it against him but I think it's very impressive for Bettis being the type of runner he was to have such a long career and be so productive.

I think lacking any truly dominant performances or legacy does ruin your overall view. I have a hard time arguing against someone who was so consistent and so damn good.
Martin didnt win a rushing title till he was close to 30 and had already lost a step. Its hard to shine with Emmitt/Barry/Faulk in the league. His best years comparable to his peers came much later in his career where I think theres an absence of greatness.

I will say to his credit outside of one abysmal game where Denver dismantled the Jets Martin was just as consistent in the playoffs. He always carried the ball well and I dont remember him having any bad games. Definitely a guy year in year out or per game you can count on. Cant knock a top 10 but I personally cant do it.


As for Bettis Cambell....Campbell was run into the wall. Bettis did have the benefit of sharing carries and even being benched during his career. I dont hold it against him since like Marucus Allen he got hosed..but in the end it benefitted him. I dont think Bettis was as dominant as Earl at any point.


Lastly I love Thurman Thomas. He was a joy to watch. But I have to give the nod to Faulk. Thomas was also in a pass first spread offense and was dominant thus HOF status...but Faulk in his Ram days was the single biggest threat Ive ever seen on a football field. He absolutely raped the defense no matter where he lined up. Like Emmitt I dont think he gets the credit he deserves for making those around him better and often has it held against him. The guy had a knack for finding open space on a route or run. He rarely had defenders around him but it was due to his decision making and instincts leading up to him bursting out of there.

I rank him no.5....but You ask me today which RB I draft first to my team Im not sure the answer wouldnt be Faulk.

 

[FirstTimer]

Therefore Bo Jackson Herschel Walker and Marcus Allen deserve to be on the list as well ?

I dont think its difficult to understand that certain players were simply in perfect systems for there talents. Emmitt was in an ideal system..for him. Barry was in an ideal system...for him.
Look at the turning point for Marshal Faulk once he got out of a traditional 2back run first offense.. Once Indy spread the ball and started passing first he turned into a HOF caliber player.
Saying that a east west runner all of a sudden is going to increase production in a system that forces him to to wait for blocking and typically stay between the tackles is one massive assumption.




To other things..

FWIW Emmitt led the league in Yards after contact/Avg yards after contact 4/5. Barry was in the top 3 only twice in those years((IIRC Bettis/Means/Foster would normally round out the top)). So It takes more than 5 whole games!! of watching a player to evaluate them.

Dickersons legacy sure didnt last. He was easily everyones number 2-3 in the early mid 90s. I think his late career team hopping attitude issues , coupled with 3 all time greats following him (barry/emmitt/faulk) lowered his view in manys eyes out of the top 5 and often not even top 10. I cant look at his career/Highlights and remember some of his dominant games without putting him up there with any of the great ones.




I think lacking any truly dominant performances or legacy does ruin your overall view. I have a hard time arguing against someone who was so consistent and so damn good.
Martin didnt win a rushing title till he was close to 30 and had already lost a step. Its hard to shine with Emmitt/Barry/Faulk in the league. His best years comparable to his peers came much later in his career where I think theres an absence of greatness.

I will say to his credit outside of one abysmal game where Denver dismantled the Jets Martin was just as consistent in the playoffs. He always carried the ball well and I dont remember him having any bad games. Definitely a guy year in year out or per game you can count on. Cant knock a top 10 but I personally cant do it.


As for Bettis Cambell....Campbell was run into the wall. Bettis did have the benefit of sharing carries and even being benched during his career. I dont hold it against him since like Marucus Allen he got hosed..but in the end it benefitted him. I dont think Bettis was as dominant as Earl at any point.


Lastly I love Thurman Thomas. He was a joy to watch. But I have to give the nod to Faulk. Thomas was also in a pass first spread offense and was dominant thus HOF status...but Faulk in his Ram days was the single biggest threat Ive ever seen on a football field. He absolutely raped the defense no matter where he lined up. Like Emmitt I dont think he gets the credit he deserves for making those around him better and often has it held against him. The guy had a knack for finding open space on a route or run. He rarely had defenders around him but it was due to his decision making and instincts leading up to him bursting out of there.

I rank him no.5....but You ask me today which RB I draft first to my team Im not sure the answer wouldnt be Faulk.

Excellent post KOF. Campbell no doubt had a higher peak than Bettis and was run until his wheels fell off but it's tough for me to overlook Bettis being that good for that long with the style he had even if he did split carries but to each his own. Like I said, anything 5 and after you can put in any order really and I wouldn't put up too much of a fight.